Rab Photon Jacket Vs Generator Alpine Jacket

Hi All,

I'm looking for a synthetic belay jacket and have narrowed it down to the two of these (although I am open to suggestions in case I've over looked something, looking to use it in Scottish winter conditions, summer alpine and everything in between - and I really would prefer synthetic to down), and I just wanted to run something by you all.

http://rab.uk.com/products/mens-clothing/primaloft_1/photon-jacket.html

http://rab.uk.com/products/mens-clothing/primaloft_1/generator-alpine-jacket.html

I know the jackets are made from different materials and all that but what I am most concerned with is the insulation. Both jackets weigh in at 520g, but both have different weights of different insulations.

The Photon has 133g Primaloft Sport in the body, 100g in the sleeves and 60g in the hood while the Alpine has 100g Primaloft One in the body and 60g in the sleeves and hood.

I have checked the clo value of both insulations on the Primaloft website and the PL 1 has a clo of .92 and the PL Sport has a clo of 0.79. So having done a few calculations and all things being equal the 133g of PL Sport should be warmer than 100g of PL 1 and so on, making the Photon the warmer of the 2 jackets in both the body and the sleeves and colder in the hood.

But of course there's the different materials of the jackets and such to take into account as well.

So basically all this boils down to is does anyone have real world experience of the two jackets? Any idea which one is actually warmer?

In real life in nasty windy/wet conditions? Surely the generator due to the endurance outer being rather more weather resistant. PL holds up to saturation quite well but does still lose a fair bit of warmth, and you'll have losses from very strong winds too.

In dry conditions, goodness knows

Alternative is the Haglofs Barrier hood. Just bought one as i don't like the look of next years replacement, and already owning the barrier (hoodless jacket) i know its excellent. The fabric is thermolite which is an alternative, but superb option, to primaloft and it is 150g in the body and 100g in the hood & sleeves. My new medium weighs under 600g and packs down into its pocket and is pretty compact. The hood is fairly big though, although my nappers tiny, it has adjustment on it. Got it from here and they are open to negotiation as i got mine down quite a bit as they price matched another online shop. Consider it you won't be dissapointed

  http://www.freetime1.co.uk/Models.aspx?ModelID=2942 

IIRC the Barrier hood was the highest TOG - 3.6? in insulkated jacket review in last winters trail magazine.

 I wanted a PL1 jacket it was choice between alpine or  the OLD Photon. beeing tight...I mean carfeful I got the Photon for £50.

If I had to choose on specification for scottish Winters I would choose the Alpine for the PL1 and Shell fabric.

The ME Citadel may be warmer still? I lust after that but as my wife is already 'concerned' about my outdoor coat collection and the price is high.... alas not this year.

I owned a Generator Alpine and the new Photon Jacket simultaneously for a short while, and ended up keeping the Photon.

In still, dry conditions it is undoubtedly the warmer of the two, the loft being noticeably greater, especially in the arms.  However, the Endurance outer of the GA would perhaps even things up given a bit of wind and rain.  

Photon Jacket for me as thats the one Im using now

I have not run such a deep research I must admit.

I was looking for a warm jacket while staying outside and Ibought the Photon Jacket

In the case of rain, I use my waterproof hard shell on top of everything.

Hence I don't know if I should realy care  about the water resistance of my insulated jacket.

Mountain Equipment Fitzroy as an alternative?

 I looked at it recently, it's brilliant. £100 I think on OutdoorShop.

Montane Flux jacket worked well for me last winter. Too many pockets is the only down side for me.